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KMID : 0379220110310020401
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Journal of Korea Gerontological Society
2011 Volume.31 No. 2 p.401 ~ p.417
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The Effects of a Memoir Writing Program for the Elderly Using Cognitive Enhancement Techniques
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Jin Young-Sun
Kim Young-Kyoung
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Abstract
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The life review means a process of appraising life of oneself and it is essential for finding the meaning of life in old age. The memoir writing is a kind of method of life review. The memoir writing program used in this study focused especially on enhancing the cognitive skills by providing priming and retrieval support for memory performance in reminiscing past experiences. All fourteen participants were healthy and normal community dwellers and attended four-month long program
of memoir writing classes which are consisted of different themes for each week. The aim of this study was to examine if the memoir writing program would render the positive effect on mental health and cognitive ability of the elderly. The results were that quality of life, life satisfaction, ego integrity of the participants showed positive change and the level of depression was significantly reduced compared to that of the control group. The findings in the present study suggest that the memoir writing can serve as one of the community initiative program to the growing population of the elderly for their emotional and cognitive challenges that they face everyday. To warrant the validity of the program, further study is needed for other sectors of elderly population, such as elderly living alone or those with both physical and/or cognitive disadvantages.
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KEYWORD
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memoir writing, Life review, autobiographical memory, retrieval support, well-being
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